Gatti Blog

We all know how challenging it can be to get our children to care about eating well and being healthy, especially since they often feel invincible. By making healthy choices fun for them, however, you as parents can create positive habits in their youth to carry them throughout their life.

Here are four ways you can get them to gobble that broccoli right up:

1. Encourage ﻿well-balanced meals﻿by shopping together and allowing them to pick vegetables they are willing to try. Turn the food into fun animal shapes or even incorporate them into a taco nigt. Let them make their own, and include some of these new vegetables into foods they already love. It will be easier to ease them into their diet while also creating a fun experience for them.

2. Allow them to pick their own extracurricular activity. Forcing them into a sport they hate playing will only discourage your child from future physical activity. Instead, give them option and allow them to pick their own as long as it keeps them active. Offer to practice with them so they want to stick with it longer.

3. Turn exercise into a game. Jumping jacks and hula hoop contests are always fun for kids and keeps them off the couch.

4. Go on hikes together. It's important to spend time together as afamily, and it is also important to live by example. Having the kids join you on your own exercise routines helps to show them that you not only value their health but yours as well.

Gatti's Fun, Food & Fitness Event 2014

Have you tried any of these? What are some things you do to help make health fun for the kids in your household or classroom?